By Matt Browning

The Buhler bowling team had five seniors who made it to the state tournament last season.

Mason Herl has been waiting patiently for his turn to lead the Crusaders and the time has now come.

Herl, which had an average of 188 and a high series of 669, will be one Buhler’s top bowlers this season. Even though he was not a state qualifier, he was a first team all-league bowler.

“What I am most excited for this season is to improve my game and lead my team through many competitions,” Herl said. “During the offseason I would bowl one or two times a week to prepare for the upcoming season to keep myself on par.”

There are two areas, one mechanical, the other emotional, that Herl wants to focus on improving in 2024.

“An area that I wanted to improve is my spare game, I would bowl multiple games of just spares,” Herl said. As an individual I would like to help teach the newer kids to become great bowlers, and place individually in meets.”

Herl is hopeful that bowling is a part of his future.

“My future plans are to take my dad’s auto body shop over when I am older and to prepare for that I will do one of two options,” Herl said. “If I get a bowling scholarship to Barton Community College to bowl and study business or if I don’t get a bowling scholarship, I will go to NCK in Beloit Ks to study automotive technician.”